Students protest across the country

School and higher education students are taking part in demonstrations across the country against plans for a huge hike in university tuition fees.

A total of 41 people were arrested last Wednesday after a group of protesters smashed a police van in Whitehall, leading officers to surround demonstrators in a so-called "kettling" operation.

Violence also flared on November 10 after a march by 50,000 students when some protesters smashed windows at the London headquarters of the Conservative Party.

Labour MP John McDonnell and Green MP Caroline Lucas are among the speakers at a rally in Trafalgar Square, to be followed by a march down Whitehall, past Downing Street, close to the scene of last week's trouble.

Demonstrations are also occuring in areas including Leeds, Brighton, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, there will be an opposition day debate on tuition fees in Parliament. More than 100 Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidates have called on leader Nick Clegg to oppose the proposed rise in tuition fees.

The 104 activists warned Mr Clegg the party - which pledged before the election to vote against any rise - could face "many more years back in the political wilderness" unless MPs rejected the coalition Government's plans.

A parliamentary vote on the measure is expected next month and Liberal Democrats are permitted to abstain under the coalition agreement with the Conservatives.